# Politics & Elections **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/politics-elections/22.md?page=274 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 275 --- ## [Why has John McCain turned into such a cranky old man?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-has-john-mccain-turned-into-such-a-cranky-old-man/649211)
**Author:** [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Replies:** 48\ **Last updated:** [February 15, 2013, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-has-john-mccain-turned-into-such-a-cranky-old-man/649211 "2013-02-15T05:19:07Z")
What has happened to McCain since he lost the election? He seems to have become a very bitter old man. I wonder if he still feels screwed over by the Republican party from the 2000 election. He got to run in 2008 but he… --- ## [What happens if the 2016 presidential election is obviously gerrymandered into giving false results?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-the-2016-presidential-election-is-obviously-gerrymandered-into-giving-false-results/647553)
**Author:** [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Replies:** 50\ **Last updated:** [February 5, 2013, 5:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-the-2016-presidential-election-is-obviously-gerrymandered-into-giving-false-results/647553 "2013-02-05T05:13:23Z")
In the 2012 house of representative elections the democratic candidates won 1.4 million more votes for the house than the GOP (59.6 million vs 58.2), but because of the GOP sweep in 2010 they rewrote districts to give th… --- ## [Could an alliance of third parties be the way to push proportional representation, etc.?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-an-alliance-of-third-parties-be-the-way-to-push-proportional-representation-etc/648593)
**Author:** [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Replies:** 128\ **Last updated:** [February 2, 2013, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-an-alliance-of-third-parties-be-the-way-to-push-proportional-representation-etc/648593 "2013-02-02T21:27:25Z")
The problem with our present system for electing Congresscritters or members of any multimember policymaking body, from any third-partisan’s point of view, is that a first-past-the-post single-member-district system natu… --- ## [Oh Great - $7 milk unless Congress gets their thumb out.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-great-7-milk-unless-congress-gets-their-thumb-out/644877)
**Author:** [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Replies:** 63\ **Last updated:** [February 1, 2013, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-great-7-milk-unless-congress-gets-their-thumb-out/644877 "2013-02-01T19:51:47Z")
Could our government be any more useless? They’ve dicked around with this since last summer. So, we got a Milk crises and a fiscal cliff to solve between Dec 26-dec 31. The House isn’t even in session and may or may not… --- ## [\<--- Republicans - the wilderness is this way (turn left)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-the-wilderness-is-this-way-turn-left/648141)
**Author:** [@snowthx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snowthx)\ **Replies:** 46\ **Last updated:** [February 1, 2013, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-the-wilderness-is-this-way-turn-left/648141 "2013-02-01T16:47:57Z")
Since the election and around the inaguration I saw several news stories about the Republican leadership attending a private retreat, seemingly to discuss new strategies for moving the party forward. Are they just lickin… --- ## [This Could Have Been Romney's Big Weekend...](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-could-have-been-romneys-big-weekend/647829)
**Author:** [@DMark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMark)\ **Replies:** 19\ **Last updated:** [January 31, 2013, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-could-have-been-romneys-big-weekend/647829 "2013-01-31T22:22:49Z")
Yep, this could have been Mitt’s big weekend of fun and frolic before that first day in office when he would have slashed and burned through lots of things. Let’s just say that I am quite grateful how thing turned out a… --- ## [Congress May Actually Be Getting Productive](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congress-may-actually-be-getting-productive/648790)
**Author:** [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qin_Shi_Huangdi)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [January 31, 2013, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congress-may-actually-be-getting-productive/648790 "2013-01-31T22:13:38Z")
As this article suggests recent Congressional actions suggests the insane gridlock of the past few years may be starting to ease a bit…http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2013/01/is-washington-getting-less-dysfun… --- ## [In 2016, all states adopt a model exactly like Maine & Nebraska; what happens?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-2016-all-states-adopt-a-model-exactly-like-maine-nebraska-what-happens/640023)
**Author:** [@drewtwo99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewtwo99)\ **Replies:** 37\ **Last updated:** [January 29, 2013, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-2016-all-states-adopt-a-model-exactly-like-maine-nebraska-what-happens/640023 "2013-01-29T16:13:41Z")
EDIT: Errr, I meant 2016. But you can still talk about how it would effect the election tomorrow if it somehow magically happened. If the entire country switched to the model that Maine and Nebraska use, 2 votes for sta… --- ## [Term limits - we already have 'em, but are things better?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/term-limits-we-already-have-em-but-are-things-better/647650)
**Author:** [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Replies:** 41\ **Last updated:** [January 28, 2013, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/term-limits-we-already-have-em-but-are-things-better/647650 "2013-01-28T14:26:08Z")
We don’t actually have a law requiring congressmen step down after serving so many years, but in practical terms there’s been a huge turnover of elected officials in the last several years. In the House of Representativ… --- ## [What constitutes a party's "base"?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-constitutes-a-partys-base/648122)
**Author:** [@SlackerInc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlackerInc)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [January 25, 2013, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-constitutes-a-partys-base/648122 "2013-01-25T14:13:32Z")
A friend and I are debating this on Facebook, and I was curious to hear Dopers’ opinions. Here is the relevant FB excerpt, with identities redacted: So to me, okay: this guy strongly supports Boehner, and probably sup… --- ## [What's the "final" word on the Benghazi embassy attack?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-final-word-on-the-benghazi-embassy-attack/639384)
**Author:** [@Cardinal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cardinal)\ **Replies:** 234\ **Last updated:** [January 25, 2013, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-final-word-on-the-benghazi-embassy-attack/639384 "2013-01-25T02:13:21Z")
I’m not that much in the loop on political news, as I get so tired of the yelling and the one-sided opinions. However, I’m hoping this is more a discussion of fact. Did the Obama administration know there was an attac… --- ## [Say something nice about the opposing political party](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/say-something-nice-about-the-opposing-political-party/645661)
**Author:** [@Askthepizzaguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askthepizzaguy)\ **Replies:** 88\ **Last updated:** [January 23, 2013, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/say-something-nice-about-the-opposing-political-party/645661 "2013-01-23T19:18:46Z")
Can’t really fit in the proper title: Same something (genuinely) nice about the political party you’re opposed to. Either what the party itself stands for, or specific members of the party. Examples: I’m a liberal Demo… --- ## [Ray Nagin (NOLA Mayor) indicted](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ray-nagin-nola-mayor-indicted/647679)
**Author:** [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [January 23, 2013, 12:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ray-nagin-nola-mayor-indicted/647679 "2013-01-23T12:24:47Z")
This probably deserves a pitting. Ray Nagin has been indicted by a federal grand jury on 21 counts of fraud, money laundering, etc., in the finest New Orleans tradition. Can’t say I’m surprised, but what a fucking slee… --- ## [Trouble brewing for Mitch McConnell?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trouble-brewing-for-mitch-mcconnell/646667)
**Author:** [@CJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CJJ)\ **Replies:** 24\ **Last updated:** [January 22, 2013, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trouble-brewing-for-mitch-mcconnell/646667 "2013-01-22T16:56:24Z")
Does this represent anything serious, or is it just a warning shot? Brent Bozell is at best a useful idiot to the conservative cause, so I’m inclined to read this as just another conservative grift to stoke their base … --- ## [House Republicans seriously considering default or shutting down the government to coerce Obama](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-republicans-seriously-considering-default-or-shutting-down-the-government-to-coerce-obama/647193)
**Author:** [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Replies:** 81\ **Last updated:** [January 22, 2013, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-republicans-seriously-considering-default-or-shutting-down-the-government-to-coerce-obama/647193 "2013-01-22T16:15:51Z")
Link. Predictable. As long as they keep getting rewarded for using the economy as a hostage, they’ll keep doing it and it’ll keep getting worse. And if they wreck the country in the process they don’t care in the sligh… --- ## [Pick Your List Favourite Congress(wo)men and Explain Why](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pick-your-list-favourite-congress-wo-men-and-explain-why/647874)
**Author:** [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qin_Shi_Huangdi)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [January 21, 2013, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pick-your-list-favourite-congress-wo-men-and-explain-why/647874 "2013-01-21T17:01:59Z")
Same idea as the governors’ thread but for current Senators and House members. I’d personally have to go with Peter King (R-NY), he’s extreme “anti-terrorism”/Islamophobic rhetoric is incredibly hypocritical considering… --- ## [When Is a Presidential Order Not a Presidential Order?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-a-presidential-order-not-a-presidential-order/647626)
**Author:** [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [January 21, 2013, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-a-presidential-order-not-a-presidential-order/647626 "2013-01-21T04:37:55Z")
Q. When Is a Presidential Order Not a Presidential Order? A. When it has no force in law? If you take a look at the official Presidential Actions page at Whitehouse.gov to look up the 23 \[paging Jim Carrey\] famed “presi… --- ## [Handicapping Federal gun control legislation](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handicapping-federal-gun-control-legislation/647366)
**Author:** [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airman_Doors_USAF)\ **Replies:** 146\ **Last updated:** [January 19, 2013, 10:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handicapping-federal-gun-control-legislation/647366 "2013-01-19T10:41:15Z")
Tomorrow President Obama unveils the recommendations given to him by Vice President Biden. It should be no surprise that the recommendations will largely be the same as the Assault Weapons Ban that passed in 1994 and sun… --- ## [The fiscal cliff again](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-fiscal-cliff-again/647609)
**Author:** [@bahimes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bahimes)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [January 18, 2013, 12:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-fiscal-cliff-again/647609 "2013-01-18T12:25:42Z")
I know it has been discussed to death, almost, but here is my take: The debt ceiling will be reached. Budgets will be cut\*. Minor political concessions will eventually be made. Life goes on. Lather, rinse, repeat… A… --- ## [Obama, Big Fan of Brennan](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-big-fan-of-brennan/646771)
**Author:** [@WillFarnaby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WillFarnaby)\ **Replies:** 34\ **Last updated:** [January 16, 2013, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-big-fan-of-brennan/646771 "2013-01-16T23:54:58Z")
Obama on Brennan: Brennan on tranparency: Brennan lies to American people in flagrant disregard for his above position: Brennan claims he never said the above, but admits that he is simply one of the most uninforme… --- ## [What is the political game behind the Hurricane Sandy relief bill?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-political-game-behind-the-hurricane-sandy-relief-bill/645919)
**Author:** [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Replies:** 22\ **Last updated:** [January 16, 2013, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-political-game-behind-the-hurricane-sandy-relief-bill/645919 "2013-01-16T19:36:18Z")
There’s obviously some political game going on behind the debacle behind the Hurricane Relief bill not be voted after the fiscal cliff bill passed. I can’t quite figure out what the game is, though? Embarrass Boehner and… --- ## [was Reagan a mean, divisive partisan?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-reagan-a-mean-divisive-partisan/645856)
**Author:** [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pseudotriton_ruber_ruber)\ **Replies:** 60\ **Last updated:** [January 15, 2013, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-reagan-a-mean-divisive-partisan/645856 "2013-01-15T16:24:28Z")
That’s my memory of him, anyways. Just with a smile, and some “Aw, shucks” to him, but basically a very divisive figure. Over here, though, the OP introduces an anecdote in which RR, as I understand the anecdote, likens… --- ## [The Election and Data](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-election-and-data/646241)
**Author:** [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Replies:** 73\ **Last updated:** [January 14, 2013, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-election-and-data/646241 "2013-01-14T21:19:30Z")
There have been a few stories lately (Here is one ) on how the Obama campaign kicked the Romney’s campaigns butt in terms of data analysis. There is another, long article, in the current edition of Technology Review. Fo… --- ## [Do You Support the Fiscal Cliff Compromise?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-support-the-fiscal-cliff-compromise/645742)
**Author:** [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qin_Shi_Huangdi)\ **Replies:** 213\ **Last updated:** [January 13, 2013, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-support-the-fiscal-cliff-compromise/645742 "2013-01-13T23:30:14Z")
Do you support the compromise regarding the fiscal cliff controversy that was passed by the United States Senate a few hours ago? --- ## [Yet another "New voter voter data and methodologies..." election thread](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yet-another-new-voter-voter-data-and-methodologies-election-thread/646937)
**Author:** [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [January 12, 2013, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yet-another-new-voter-voter-data-and-methodologies-election-thread/646937 "2013-01-12T04:48:31Z")
There are a couple of interesting threads not about how President Obama’s campaign was able to, er, mirco-target its messages almost to the individual voter in the process of winning the election. First, I’ll be startin… --- ## [A serious but unlikely to be accepted proposal \[to reduce time congresspersons spend fundraising\]](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-serious-but-unlikely-to-be-accepted-proposal-to-reduce-time-congresspersons-spend-fundraising/646820)
**Author:** [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [January 11, 2013, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-serious-but-unlikely-to-be-accepted-proposal-to-reduce-time-congresspersons-spend-fundraising/646820 "2013-01-11T23:00:48Z")
I have an idea. First, some background: OK, if the problem is that Congressmen spend 5+ hours a day begging, schmoozing, and influence peddling, and then can’t actually do their, y’know, duty as legislators; how’s thi… --- ## [Obama vs Slick Willie 2016](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-vs-slick-willie-2016/646375)
**Author:** [@Buck\_Godot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buck_Godot)\ **Replies:** 26\ **Last updated:** [January 11, 2013, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-vs-slick-willie-2016/646375 "2013-01-11T22:44:00Z")
In this threadon repealing the 22nd amendment, it seems that the underlying concern would be making Obama president for life. But this got me thinking that it would also apply equally well to WJ Clinton, whose presiden… --- ## [Sadly, Unskewedpolls.com has taken down their web site](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sadly-unskewedpolls-com-has-taken-down-their-web-site/646310)
**Author:** [@Linden\_Arden](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Linden_Arden)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [January 10, 2013, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sadly-unskewedpolls-com-has-taken-down-their-web-site/646310 "2013-01-10T14:11:15Z")
I will miss them. --- ## [Barney Frank - wants to temporarily be a Senator](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/barney-frank-wants-to-temporarily-be-a-senator/646117)
**Author:** [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Replies:** 19\ **Last updated:** [January 9, 2013, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/barney-frank-wants-to-temporarily-be-a-senator/646117 "2013-01-09T19:06:28Z")
I like this idea. I usually don’t agree with Frank on just about anything. But, he’s got some valuable experience in finance legislation. Why not use it? The appointment is only for a few months. --- ## [Fiscal Cliff - Doesn't it fix the deficit problem?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fiscal-cliff-doesnt-it-fix-the-deficit-problem/645732)
**Author:** [@Alzarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alzarian)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [January 9, 2013, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fiscal-cliff-doesnt-it-fix-the-deficit-problem/645732 "2013-01-09T18:06:24Z")
With all this doom and gloom over us all going over the so-called fiscal cliff, aren’t we forgetting that this rather drastic measure does in fact take care of the deficit? Doesn’t it? I mean, I’m not advocating that t… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/politics-elections/22.md?page=273) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/politics-elections/22.md?page=275)